For most of us, beginning the new year with resolutions is not uncommon. We list goals to accomplish for the new year such as losing weight, getting organized, finding more time or feeling less tired.

The key to being able to reach your goals is finding the energy to do so. However, this is easier said than done. Trying to cope with life’s unexpected stressors or just day-to-day tasks can be daunting. For some of us, the consequences of what may seem like non-stop chores, phone calls to return or kids to take care of is a feeling of not just being tired but drained of all energy. This is where I say slow down and re-evaluate your lifestyle and mind frame.

Begin this new year with taking care of yourself, which means not only physically but also mentally. Our mind is a powerful thing, but unfortunately most of us do not use it – or if we do, it may not be in a positive way. If you find yourself believing you don’t have enough time or your life would be so much better if you had more time, then you are not using your mind in a way that is beneficial to you or those around you. This type of thinking is what drains you of your energy.

If you are feeling tired or fatigue on a daily basis then it is time to reassess your mind frame. Begin by looking at the possible causes of your fatigue. Some causes can be from your hectic lifestyle or emotional causes such as worry, frustration or negative thoughts. Also look at physical causes such as being overweight or underweight, not eating healthy foods or lack of exercise can also cause fatigue.

Some ways to find energy and beat fatigue include:

• Eat healthy. Keep a daily food diary of what you eat. Write down all the food you put into your mouth. You may be surprised at what you eat on a daily basis. Eating too many carbohydrates and sugars can drain you of energy. Eating vegetables and fruits may help you find that extra energy you are looking for.

• Start moving by exercising. This does not mean that you have to spend two hours at the gym. Just take a 10-minute walk around the block or get moving by cleaning the house. You will be amazed at how minor house cleaning can create a mini-workout.

• Get organized. Having disorganization in your home can easily create clutter in your mind, which may leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Create a household schedule and keep your calendar up to date, check it every night before bed so that you know what to expect the next day. This could help prevent your mind from worrying about what tomorrow’s activities may be. Create small daily to-do projects that are manageable, such as cleaning out the kitchen pantry one week and the laundry room the next. You will immediately feel a sense of accomplishment from each task completed.

• Change your mind frame. Be grateful. This is the single most important way to find energy and a renewed sense of appreciation for life. Look around at what is good in your life. We spend so much time complaining and focusing our energy on what we don’t have, instead of what we do have. Make a list of what is good in your life and read this list daily. This is an important step in your quest to find more energy.

Hopefully you will begin to feel less drained by your day-to-day activities and more in control of not only your daily activities but also your life. Sometimes we just need to think about what is good and what we do enjoy in our life, instead of thinking about how our life could be better and those dishes piled up in the sink.

Michelle Aycock is a licensed psychotherapist. Her office number is 912-233-4294. Her Web site is coastaltherapist.com. Submit a parenting question at michelle@coastaltherapist.com. She has a blog at savannahnow.com/blogs/parentingtip.